Context 20 -- Live Update #2: All Checked In

I just signed into the conference. It was an elaborate process of walking up to the girl sitting behind the table and telling her my name. I did get a cool gift bag for my trouble, though. I know I am with the right people because they made sure to include a flyer for the local Pizza Hut. Context 20 has my back in the pizza department. If they have a cash bar up there with some Glenlivet, I may sign up for Context 21 before I leave.

I've already made some friends despite my nearly nonexistent networking skills. A nice couple from Worcester of all places. How crazy is that? We probably live 20 minutes for each other only to meet out here. Those wacky Writing Gods, I tell you. Anyway, we had a fun little chat in the hallway as we dug through our goodie bags (as my daughter would say). They are horror writers, so I took the opportunity to see what they felt the difference was between horror and dark fantasy. It was a fun discussion. It's so cool to be around other people who take this stuff seriously.

The other thing I've noticed is that this hotel is filled with crippling introverted sci-fi / fantasy people much like me. It's strange to see so many of us in one place. It's also interesting that we all have this awareness about it. Everyone is introducing themselves--though clearly uncomfortable about it--and trying to make small talk. It's like we all know we are in the same boat. It's a nice vibe.

I'm having so much fun and the thing really hasn’t even started yet! Oh well, I am going to head back upstairs early and see if I can meet some more people. I think I have panels clear through to 11:00p--and after that there may be an activity of some sort (possibly with the aforementioned cash bar). Fortunately, I have already determined that Pizza Hut will deliver until 1:00a.

Note: Please forgive the lack of proofreading in this post, but I only had time to pound it out quick, and I wanted to post it right away in the spirit of the whole "Live Update" thing I am doing here.